How To Find A Good Therapist For Depression

Finding a good therapist for depression can make a huge difference in speeding up your recovery. In this article, you'll find useful information about how to find the right therapist for you.

When you're struggling with depression, it can be useful to work with a therapist you feel comfortable with. I understand that it can be very uncomfortable to talk about depression and what you're going through, especially about painful and negative thoughts and feelings. It can be even more difficult to open up to someone who doesn't make you feel comfortable enough to open up.

A good therapist usually takes a professional approach. This means that you'll be heard without being judged. Choose someone who encourages you to truly express your thoughts and feelings. This can be an important part in helping both you and your therapist understand your depression and what you're going through.

According to Dr. Kenneth Robbins, a Psychiatrist at the University of Wisconsin, "From the patient's standpoint, one wants to find somebody who you feel is helpful to you, cares about you, and is putting the energy into helping you that you feel you need." It's important to make sure that your needs are being met. Otherwise, you'll be better off finding another therapist who can help you the most.

Dr. Robbins also suggests that in treating depression, it can be useful to find a therapist who uses a Cognitive Behavioral approach. This is considered as one of the most effective approaches in getting someone out of depression. Understand that it's alright to ask your therapist whether or not he or she is using this approach. If not, then you can ask "why not?", what approach are you using? and how can it be helpful to me?"

It's always useful to educate yourself and understand the risks and benefits of the different approaches that therapists use when treating depression. This can help you determine which ones can potentially work best for you.

Understand that the best depression therapy can often only be given to you by a good therapist. Finding the right therapist is a very important factor to consider. However, it's important to realize that a therapist can't do it all for you. Ultimately, it's you who plays a major role towards your own recovery from depression.

The right therapist can guide you with how you're going to deal with your feelings. You need to learn how to change the way you think and behave. The way you perceive or react to things can either reduce or increase the severity of your symptoms. This is where a therapist can assist you in finding your way towards understanding and overcoming depression.

Some people can get over their depression with psychotherapy alone. However, there are also others who may need to take antidepressant medications alongside therapy.

There are different types of health care professionals who are qualified to provide depression therapy. These are Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social workers, licensed professional counselors and Psychiatric nurses.

When you're looking for a therapist, it can be a good idea to ask for a referral from your primary care doctor. You might also want ask your family, friends or other people around you who might know of a good and experienced therapist. There are also other great sources, such as local hospitals, universities and even the Internet. You can search online and look at the profiles of different therapists.

Once you've a list of some potential therapists, don't hesitate to give them a call and get some more useful information. Some of the important questions that you might want to ask include - Is the therapist taking new patients? What kind of experience does the therapist have in treating patients who have depression? Where do the therapy sessions take place? How much does the therapy cost? Can I meet with the therapist before committing to a therapy session?

When you have the chance to meet with your therapist, it can be useful to ask these following questions - 'What type of therapy would you recommend for my depression symptoms?', 'what will this type of therapy involve', what are the benefits and the primary goals of my depression treatment?', 'How often would I need therapy sessions?'

It's best to take some time to assess and decide which therapist you find yourself most comfortable to work with. If you think that you haven't found one yet, then it's alright to look for other therapists. Just don't give up. Continue to search for the right partner in your recovery. Look for one whom you find is worthy of your trust and respect.

A good therapist can help you become more self-aware and stronger. Yet understand that your therapist can only be of assistance to you. It’s you who needs to do the work of building yourself up once again. You need to be an 'active participant' and be committed to your proactive recovery from depression.

Talking can be a great 'outlet' for all those unhelpful thoughts and feelings that you've been carrying around. Talking things through with a supportive person can give you relief. It can make you feel better, just simply knowing that someone is listening to you. It's all the more helpful to know that you're talking to someone who cares and is willing to help you.

Some people get their strength from their supportive family and friends. However, you can always get extra support and guidance from a therapist or counselor. Most therapists are well-trained and knowledgeable enough to help you get to the root of your problems. They can help you find useful insights about how you can overcome all these. In time, both of you will be able to work out ways you can use to move forward and live life to its fullest.

Anyone can benefit from a therapy or counseling. It's not only those who are suffering from a mental health problem. A lot of people need help with difficult life issues, such as relationship problems, work-related stress, self doubt and a lot more different concerns.

Here's a thought - If there are antidepressant medications, why not just take a pill to help you solve your problems? Who wouldn't want an easy magic depression cure? However, it's important to understand that mental and emotional problems have different causes. Antidepressant drugs aren't considered a 'one-stop cure' to all these. Some people may respond positively to medications, while there are also others who won't. There are even issues about whether or not antidepressant drugs ever work at all.

Furthermore, medications are made to only help ease your symptoms. Taking them won't help solve your problems; neither will it guide you on what to do with your life. It won't help you understand why you keep on doing things that you know aren't good for you. In addition, take note that these drugs can have harmful side effects.

Therapy can be challenging, as it's never easy to talk about uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Understand that it can take time for you to heal. However, therapy can help you beyond just giving you relief from your symptoms. It can give you the tools you need to have a better life - how to nurture your relationships, doing what you really want and having the skills to cope better with whatever life throws your way.

When you're trying to pick the right therapist, it can be useful to ask yourself these questions - 'Does it seem like the therapist truly care about me and my problems', 'Do I feel that the therapist understands me?', 'Does the therapist accept me for who I am?', 'Do I feel comfortable enough to reveal personal information to this person?', 'Can I be completely honest and open with this therapist?', 'Is the therapist a really good listener?'

2It’s important to choose the right therapist—someone you trust who makes you feel cared for and has the experience to help you make changes for the better in your life."

A study indicated that using a combination of medication and therapy is more effective than using medication alone in treating depression. In fact, among the patients tested, only 22% of those who used medication alone reported a reduction in their symptoms. On the other hand, 46% of those who used the combined approach of medication and therapy experienced a longer-lasting reduction of depression symptoms.

If you're currently taking prescribed medications, it can be a good idea to get a referral for a CBT-trained therapist from your prescribing doctor. The fact that both your doctor and therapist know each other can be advantageous. In some ways, it will be easier for both mental health care providers to work together in finding the best treatment for you. Your doctor can get information from your therapist whether or not your current medications are working well for you or not.

It can be helpful to let your therapist know what your goals and expectations are. This can help both of you know whether or not you're on the same page. It's best to start off nice and clear, in order to promote a 'smooth-sailing' therapy once it has officially started.

Try to pay attention even to some minor details that bother you. It's most likely that you'll be having a lot of therapy sessions with your therapist. So, it it's always a good idea to iron out even the little things. This will help in keeping you motivated to continue and stay committed to your therapy.

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One Comment

Emily ChrisNov 18, 2013 @
13:17:41

Choosing a good therapist might be a hard one. When searching for the right one, you can ask a friend, family, or acquaintances, they might know someone. If you feel that the your therapist doesn't suit you, then search for a new one.